Dando police chief rejects Serb plot theory

The detective in charge of the Jill Dando murder inquiry today rejected any link between her death and a Yugoslavian assassination plot.

The TV presenter had made an appeal for Kosovan refugees before she was shot through the head outside her south-west London home in April 1999.

Detective Chief Inspector Hamish Campbell told an Old Bailey jury: "To suggest the murder is driven by Serbia or state-sponsored terrorists is not going to stand up, in my professional opinion."

An intelligence report received at the National Intelligence Crime Service and passed to officers investigating Miss Dando's shooting was read out in court.

It suggested that the Serbian warlord Arken had ordered Miss Dando's execution in retaliation for the Nato bombing of the television station in Belgrade.

It stated: "Jill Dando was the subject of an execution by a Yugoslavian hitman. Intelligence sources suggest that as a result of the bombing of a TV station run by the daughters of Milosevic, a contract was put out on John Birt.

"As a result of this the target was changed to Jill Dando. The hit was ordered by Arken, the leader of the Tigers. The gunman was a Yugoslavian who arrived in the UK from Germany via France. He used the ferry because flying was considered too dangerous."

Michael Mansfield QC, defending the man accused of murdering Miss Dando, suggested there was evidence to suggest Yugoslavia as a possible motive for her death.

"Or could there be a maverick, disenchanted Serbian here who wanted retribution?" he asked.

But Mr Campbell maintained there was no evidence linking her death to Yugoslavia. But he said that nine months into the investigation there had been people "still not letting go" of the theory that it had been a well planned, skilfully executed murder.

Mr Mansfield said the funerals of some of those killed in the Belgrade television station bombing had taken place on the day and "almost at the same time" as Miss Dando was shot.

But Mr Campbell said he had not investigated the deaths of those killed in bombings there and did not know when the funerals took place.

A series of phone calls were also made to the BBC in the days after Miss Dando's death, Mr Mansfield said.

One call was made to Television Centre in London at 11.09am on April 27, the day after she was shot, by a man with a foreign accent, possibly eastern European, said Mr Mansfield.

The voice said: "Yesterday I called you to tell you to add a few more numbers to the list."

The caller said: "Because your government and in particular your Prime Minister Blair, murdered and butchered 17 innocent young people who worked like make-up artists, electricians and technological engineers.

"These type of people he butchered. We butcher back. The first you had yesterday."

"The next one will be Tony Hall."

Mr Hall was head of current affairs and news at the BBC, Mr Mansfield said.

Another call was registered from the same number at 7.51pm the same day.

And on April 28 at 12.51pm another call came in through the BBC in Belfast.

A voice said: "Yes I will tell you, listen.

"You at the BBC are the voice of your government, that's why your reporter is dead - because your government killed 17 innocent people only with the purpose to make a point.

"Now you have one and your station will be next."

The Mirror newspaper also received calls threatening well known personalities at the BBC, Mr Mansfield said.

He said the Kosovo conflict was going on at the time and there were demonstrations by Serbs in London against the BBC and the way it had reported events.

Asked if he had known of the demonstrations or the protest slogan "NATO lies, BBC complies", Mr Campbell said he had not.

Mr Campbell said that between May 22 and May 25 last year around 50 police officers were involved in a covert surveillance operation monitoring George.

The operation included placing a static camera outside his house, he said.

It also included one undercover officer who was instructed to engage George in conversation if possible, which they did.

Orlando Pownall, prosecuting asked in re-examination what factors Mr. Campbell had taken into account when discounting a link with Serbia.

The officer said one was the lack of any public acknowledgement for the shooting.